<p>In printed text, sound is a somewhat forgotten aspect. The recitation of text is vital in areas like poetry and oratory, but still has no distinct technique of being communicated. Emphasis of a word might be expressed through italics, but no canonic character set or system for vocal delivery of texts exists. With this essay we are creating a foundation for a development of such a character set or system. By studying existing visualisations of sound and comparing these with semiotic and perception-based theories we obtain useful insights for a prospective system for visualisations of vocal sounds.</p><p>We conclude that the aspects of sound one wants to visualise must be carefully defined since the viewer cannot process infinite amounts of information. A sound visualisation system does not have to consist of multiple characters or signs to be effective, but had better be built around a strong code to manage the signs into a working system. Creating a context for the signs is also recommended in order to be able to compare signs with eachother.</p>

This thesis argues that, in spite of his explicit denunciation of Aristotle's theory of perception and thought, Thomas Reid's own theory of perception marks a return to the central themes of Aristotle's theory. It is argued, first, that Aristotle's 'De Anima' presents an account of sensation and thought in which the functions of the object of perception play the determining role with respect to the structure, order and intelligibility of the act of perception. Thomas Aquinas' and Descartes' transformation of Aristotle's account are then discussed, showing how the "apparatus" of Aristotle's theory remains while the ground of order and intelligibility is shifted from the functions of the object of perception to those of the perceiver as subject. The theories of the British empiricists are then shown to be continuous with this transformation of Aristotle's thought. Finally, it is argued that Reid returns to an objectivism by way of his rejection of the subjectivistic transformation wrought by Descartes et al. It is argued that this rejection is not---as Reid himself believes---a rejection of the crucial aspects of Aristotle's theory, but instead constitutes a return to its primary themes and theses.

This thesis presents a body of work conducted to determine thermal comfort on train journeys. Relatively little research has been conducted on trains in comparison with the vast body of work conducted within building environments. This thesis aimed to expand our knowledge of rail passenger thermal comfort throughout the journey; platform to destination. The train journey was separated into its component parts and analysed by conducting both laboratory and field experiments that either simulated or measured aspects of a train journey. Laboratory experiment 1 examined appropriate methods of data collection during train journeys. Participants (9 males and 9 females) were exposed to a simulated train environment three times and used a different data collection method on each occasion; a paper-based method, a voice recorder or a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA). Results concluded that the three methods can be used interchangeably when recording thermal comfort data. Participants preferred the PDA over the other two methods because they felt it afforded them a level of privacy in addition to blending in with other rail passengers using similar technologies. The second laboratory experiment measured thermal comfort following a change of environment. Participants (12 males and 12 females) were exposed to three environmental conditions (warm, neutral and slightly cool) in a thermal chamber on three separate occasions. The exposure lasted 30 minutes, after which, participants entered a new environment that was the same on each occasion (slightly cool). Results showed that overshoots in sensation (beyond those predicted by the Predicted Mean Vote thermal comfort index PMV) are observed following downward steps (warmer to cooler) in environmental conditions. No overshoots were observed following the upward step (cooler to warmer) in environment, with sensations immediately reflecting the predicted steady-state values. Laboratory experiment 3 (22 males and 26 females) expanded the research conducted in laboratory experiment 2 by exposing participants to greater magnitudes of environmental change. In addition, sensation was measured after this change until steady-state was reached. Participants were exposed to four environmental conditions (cool to warm to neutral to cool or cool to cold to warm to cool) consecutively over a 2 hour period with 30 minutes spent in each location. Results demonstrated similar effects to those observed during laboratory experiment 2 with overshoots observed following downward steps in environmental conditions and none observed in the opposite direction. Sensations demonstrating overshoots gradually increased until steady-state was achieved after approximately 25 minutes. Field experiment 1 (12 males and 32 females) measured thermal comfort while boarding trains. Participants were taken on a short train journey and recorded sensations whilst on the platform and during boarding. Results showed that overshoots may also be observed following step up and step down in environments. It is hypothesised that change in air velocity is influential in this effect. Thermal comfort throughout a train journey was measured in field experiment 2. Participants (16 males and 16 females) reported on thermal comfort on the platform, during boarding and throughout a return train journey from Loughborough to London St Pancras. Results also demonstrated overshoots following upward transients indicating that there are factors in the field that do not occur in laboratory conditions. Subjective parameters reach steady-state after approximately 20 minutes and PMV accurately predicted sensations during the journey. Again, air velocities may have interacted with other variables resulting in the overshoots following upward steps in environmental conditions. Laboratory experiments 2 and 3 resulted in the creation of a model predicting sensation following a change of environment, PMVTRANS. When the model was compared with the field data, it could not accurately predict sensations observed during transients. It also could not predict the sensation overshoots observed following upward transients. A new model is now proposed, NEW PMVTRANS. This model shows greater correlation with actual sensation than PMV; however it does require further validation from field data. Research has shown that PMV is an accurate estimator of sensation within a train carriage and should be used by train designers to optimise the environmental conditions for passengers.

Psychomotor stimulant abuse is a significant public health problem. While many individuals experiment with stimulants, there is marked variability in individuals' behavioral and subjective response to these drugs and these differences may be associated with their risk for abuse. One characteristic shown to be associated with drug abuse is sensation seeking, defined as the seeking of novel sensations and experiences and the willingness to take risks for the sake of such experiences. While observational studies have shown that individuals with elevated sensation seeking are more likely to report stimulant use and abuse, less clear is whether subjective and behavioral response to acute stimulant administration may vary as a function of sensation seeking status. We recently completed an outpatient laboratory study in which 37 healthy adults received repeated opportunities to sample and choose between d-amphetamine (d-AMPH; 5, 10, 20 mg/70kg) or placebo. That study provided an opportunity to examine associations between sensation seeking and d-AMPH choice and subjective response under rigorous double-blind experimental conditions. The Zuckerman Sensation Seeking Scale V was administered at intake, providing a Total sensation seeking score as well as four subscales (i.e., Experience Seeking, Disinhibition, Thrill and Adventure Seeking, Boredom Susceptibility). We hypothesized that elevated sensation seeking at intake would be associated with increased preference for d-AMPH over placebo in subsequent choice sessions, as well as greater positive d-AMPH subjective effects. Among males, increased baseline sensation seeking was associated with increased d-AMPH choice and positive subjective effects at the 5 and 10 mg/70 kg doses. Among females we found no significant associations between sensation seeking and d-AMPH choice or subjective effects. Finally, when the association between sensation seeking and other baseline characteristics was examined, there was a significant positive association with lifetime drug use as well as impulsivity. Taken together, our data suggest that elevated sensation seeking in males may be associated with increased sensitivity to d-AMPH reinforcement and positive subjective effects, suggesting increased vulnerability for stimulant use and abuse.

This study examines whether forming a single identity is crucial to learning to bind faces and voices, or if people are equally able to do so without tying this information to an identity. To test this, individuals learned paired faces and voices that were in one of three different conditions: True voice, Gender Matched, or Gender Mismatched conditions. Performance was measured in a training phase as well as a test phase, and results show that participants were able to learn more quickly and have higher overall performance for learning in the True Voice and Gender Matched conditions. During the test phase, performance was almost at chance in the Gender Mismatched condition which may mean that learning in the training phase was simply memorization of the pairings for this condition. Results support the hypothesis that learning to bind faces and voices is a process that involves forming a supramodal identity from multisensory learning. / by Meredith Davidson. / Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2010. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2010. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

O processo de envelhecimento é acompanhado de diminuição gradativa sensitiva de uma forma geral, e sabe-se que alterações como perda olfativa podem anteceder o aparecimento de doenças neurodegenerativas, como a Doença de Alzheimer (DA) e a Doença de Parkinson (DP). Além disso, anormalidades somestésicas são encontradas em doentes com Diabetes mellitus (DMII), e estão associadas ao aparecimento da neuropatia diabética, que pode ser precipitada pela Hipertensão Arterial Sistêmica (HAS). Sendo assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar longitudinalmente as sensibilidades somestésica, gustativa e olfativa, correlacionando-as com as características clínicas de idosos, bem como com a incidência de novas doenças. Foram recrutados 57 idosos do Serviço de Geriatria do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HC-FMUSP); destes, 36 compareceram à segunda avaliação e 24 à terceira avaliação anual. Foram utilizados os instrumentos: avaliação clínica (dados do prontuário médico incluindo doenças prévias e novas, medicamentos e exames - hemograma, glicemia e colesterol), avaliação de pressão arterial (PA), frequência cardíaca (FC), Mini Exame do Estado Mental (MEEM), avaliação sistematizada da sensibilidade (limiares olfativos, gustativos, percepção térmica - frio e calor, percepção mecânica - tátil e vibratória, percepção dolorosa de superfície e reflexo córneo-palpebral). Os dados foram tabulados e analisados estatisticamente considerando-se um nível de significância de 5%. Foi observado aumento dos limiares olfativos (p < 0,001), salgado (p=0,024), azedo (p=0,020), amargo (p=0,001), frio na face (p=0,019), frio na mão (p=0,004), tato na face (p < 0,001), tato na mão (p=0,012) e vibração na face (p=0,018). Houve associação da sensibilidade com doenças prévias (p < 0,05). Em conclusão, observou-se que alterações sensitivas se associaram com o aumento da idade e doenças prévias se relacionaram a variações de sensibilidade, embora limiares sensitivos não se associaram a incidência de novas doenças / The aging process is associated with a gradual reduction of sensory thresholds in general, and olfactory loss can predict neurodegenerative illnesses, such as Alzheimer´s Disease and Parkinson´s Disease. Besides, somatosensory abnormalities are often in patients with Diabetes mellitus and are a symptom of diabetic neuropathy, which can be precipitated by systemic arterial hypertension. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate, in a longitudinal design, somatosensory, gustative and olfactory perceptions and to investigate the association of them with the clinical characteristics and incidence of new diseases. Fifty-seven elderly were recruited; 36 completed the second annual evaluation and 24 completed the third annual evaluation. They were patients from the Geriatric Clinic of Hospital das Clínicas of the Medical School of the University of Sao Paulo. The following instruments and evaluations were performed: clinical evaluation (data from medical records including old and new diseases, medication, exams - hemogram, glycaemia and cholesterol, measurements of arterial pressure and cardiac frequency), the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE), and quantitative sensory testing (olfactory, gustative, thermal, tactile, vibratory, pain thresholds and corneal reflex). Data were tabled and statistically analyzed considering a level of significance of 5%. During the follow-up, there was an increase of the olfactory (p < 0.001), salty (p=0.024), sour (p=0.020), bitter (p=0.001), facial cold (p=0.019), hand cold (p=0.004), facial tactile (p < 0.001), hand tactile (p=0.012) and facial vibration (p=0.018) thresholds. There was an association of sensitivity with previous diseases (P < 0.05). In conclusion, sensory alterations were associated with aging and the prevalence of previous diseases was associated with sensory abnormalities. However, sensory thresholds did not correlate to the incidence of new diseases

A Tese Confissões | Não | Declaradas apresenta um conjunto de experimentos poéticos realizados entre 2011 e 2015, cujo foco toma o corpo - para além do masculino e feminino - como subjetividade encarnada. Neles estão incorporadas tanto as investigações no campo das práticas artísticas quanto as reflexões no plano conceitual. A criação de campos sensórios em desenhos, esculturas, fotografias, gravuras e videoperformances refere-se às práticas artísticas. Já o desenvolvimento ensaístico do texto sobre as noções de corpo e sua conversão em imagem - de subjetividade como objeto de encarnação e de corpo fluido em estado artístico - remete ao plano conceitual em que os resultados dos experimentos poéticos se rebatem e se multiplicam. Como desdobramento disso, ainda são desencadeadas ideias sobre questões de gênero na interação erótica e, numa outra perspectiva, são desenvolvidas reflexões sobre o sujeito múltiplo metaestável como resultante de um processo de individuação contínuo. A metodologia que está na base dos experimentos poéticos é a pesquisa da sensação, porém empreendida com o objetivo de criar zonas estéticas capazes de dissolver formas corporais culturalmente crista / This thesis, entitled Confessions | Not | Declared, presents a series of artistic experiments conducted between 2011 and 2015, focusing on the human body beyond the categories of male and female, taken as embodied subjectivity. These experiments embody both artistic practice-based research and theoretical considerations. Artistic practice refers to the creation of sensory fields in drawings, sculptures, photographs, prints and video performances. The theoretical analysis examined some notions of the human body converted into image: the notion of incarnated subjectivity and the notion of a flowing body in artistic state, and how these concepts related to the artistic experimentation. Furthermore, both ideas on gender issues in erotic interaction and, from a different perspective, reflections on a metastable, multiple subject resulting from a continuous process of individuation, were considered. Sensation research was the methodology underpinning the artistic experiments. With this approach, aesthetic zones were created that dissolved culturally constructed notions of human body forms, and the images produced, rather than mere images, were infused with story-telling power.

Esta tese é um estudo de desenhos contidos em cadernos e registrados na forma de apontamentos. Estudou-se principalmente as imagens inerentes a quatro cadernos de apontamentos produzidos entre 1997 a 2007, dentre vários existentes. Optamos pelo objeto da pesquisa ser o próprio depoimento do artista, o qual narra os processos poéticos, a coleta das informações visuais, a materialização e a transformação em obra executada e passível de exposição. Os vestígios gráficos contidos principalmente no caderno 1 são próprios dos apontamentos; são desenhos ainda em formação que ora apresentamos como desenhos de memória e que trazem inicialmente apenas a preocupação de registrar formas diversificadas. Já os cadernos 2, 3 e 4 são mais formais, isto é, os registros trazem uma intencionalidade de estabelecer relações entre observações, pensamentos e sensações. Portanto, mais subjetivos enquanto produção poética. Analisando e comparando desenhos (ora esboços, ora obras), estas imagens foram ganhando significados, suscitando o estabelecimento de diálogos com outros desenhos. Também, estes processos permitiram uma experiência poética e a aplicação dos diversificados meios técnicos para a execução e resolução das obras. Foram estudados ainda, os desenhos enquanto fabulação, abstração e devaneio. Buscou-se o élan incrustado em algum lugar do espaço anotado, para deste modo, poder pensar formas de trazê-lo à superfície dos cadernos. A pesquisa procurou mostrar também alguns cadernos de artistas como: John Constable, Claes Oldenburg, Edgar Degas, Le Corbusier, Pablo Picasso, Henry Moore, Joseph Beuys, entre outros. Estes artistas utilizaram-se de cadernos, cada qual a seu modo e no seu tempo, com intuito de registrar e auxiliar na criação posterior das obras. Em muitos casos, os próprios cadernos já possuiam status de obra de arte, como podemos verificar ao longo desta tese. / This thesis is a study of drawings contained in notebooks and registered in the formof notes. The 2007 were studied the inherent images mainly the four sketch books produced between 1997, amongst some existing ones. We opt to the object of the research to be the proper deposition of the artist, which tells the poetical processes, the collection of the visual information, the materialization and the transformation in workmanship executed and passível of exposition. The graphical vestiges contained mainly in notebook 1 are proper of the notes; they are drawings still in formation that however we present as memory drawings and that they bring only the concern initially to register diversified forms. Already notebooks 2, 3 and 4 are more formal, that is, the registers bring a scienter to establish relations between comments, thoughts and sensations. Therefore, more subjective while poetical production. Analyzing and comparing drawings (however sketches, however workmanships), these images had been gaining meanings, exciting the establishment of dialogues with other drawings. Also, these processes had allowed diversified to a poetical experience and the half application of the technician for the execution and resolution of the workmanships. They had been studied still, the drawings while fantastic report, abstraction and devaneio. Élan incrusted in some place of the written down space searched, for in this way, to be able to think forms to bring it it the surface of notebooks. The research looked for to also show some notebooks of artists as: John Constable, Claes Oldenburg, Edgar Degas, Le Corbusier, Pablo Picasso, Henry Moore, Joseph Beuys, among others. These artists had used themselves of notebooks, each one its way and in its time, with intention to register and to assist in the posterior creation of the workmanships. In many cases, the proper notebooks already possessed status of work of art, as we can verify throughout this thesis.

INTRODUÇÃO: A reconstrução de defeitos de partes moles da região plantar representa grande desafio à Cirurgia Plástica. Há controvérsias com relação ao tipo de tecido ideal a ser empregado: se muscular ou cutâneo. OBJETIVO: O presente estudo pretende avaliar os resultados da reconstrução e reabilitação de pacientes portadores de defeitos complexos da região plantar por meio da utilização de retalho composto, muscular e cutâneo, proveniente da região anterolateral da coxa. MÉTODOS: No período de julho 2009 a julho 2011, 25 pacientes portadores de defeitos plantares e com idades variando de 19 a 76 (média: 57,1 anos), sendo 14 do sexo masculino e 11 do sexo feminino, foram tratados no Hospital das Clínicas da FMUSP. Dos 25 pacientes, 22 apresentavam defeitos resultantes de ressecções de melanoma e 3, perdas decorrentes de traumatismo do membro inferior. A neurorrafia entre o nervo cutâneo femoral lateral, presente no retalho anterolateral, e o ramo calcâneo presente no defeito na região plantar foi realizado em 7 pacientes. O período médio de seguimento foi de 12 meses. RESULTADOS: O componente muscular de todos (100%) os retalhos manteve-se viável. Com relação ao componente cutâneo, houve 2 casos de perda parcial e 1 caso de perda total. Após 4 semanas de pós-operatório, o contorno foi considerado bom em 19 casos; a estabilidade adequada em 23 casos e a deambulação satisfatória em 22 casos. Os 7 retalhos submetidos à reinervação recuperaram grau de sensibilidade cutânea inferior ao do local de origem. CONCLUSÕES: O retalho proposto foi adequado para a reconstrução dos defeitos da região plantar. Observou-se baixa incidência de complicações locais. A qualidade do contorno, estabilidade ou deambulação foi considerada adequada na maioria dos casos. Não se verificou vantagem dos retalhos inervados sobre os não inervados / INTRODUCTION: Reconstruction of soft tissue defects of the plantar region represents a major challenge in plastic surgery. There is controversy regarding the ideal type of tissue to be used: muscle or skin. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the results of the reconstruction and rehabilitation of patients with complex defects of the plantar region by using a composite flap of muscle and skin from the anterolateral thigh. METHODS: From july 2009 to july 2011, 25 patients with plantar defects and aged 19-76 (mean: 57.1 years), 14 males and 11 females, were treated at Hospital das Clinicas. Twenty-two patients had defects resulting from resection of melanoma and 3 losses resulting from trauma of the lower limb. Neurorrhaphy between the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, present in the anterolateral flap, and the calcaneal branch defect, present in the plantar region, was performed in 7 patients. The mean follow-up was 24 months. RESULTS: The muscular component of all (100%) flaps remained viable. There were 2 cases of partial loss and 1 case of total loss of the cutaneous component. At 4 weeks postoperatively, the contour was considered good in 19 cases; stability adequate in 23 cases and ambulation satisfactory in 22 cases. The 7 flaps submitted to reinnervation recovered less skin sensitivity in comparison with the donor site. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed flap is suitable for reconstruction of defects in the plantar region. Few local complications were observed. The quality of the contour, stability and ambulation were considered adequate in most cases. No advantage was found for the innervated over the non-innervated flap

Esta tese examina os estudos clínico-terapêuticos, laboratoriais e epistemológicos que Wilhelm Reich endereçou, no transcurso de sua obra, ao tema da sensação. Consultaram-se as seguintes fontes de dados: a) artigos, livros, correspondências, diários e transcrições de uma entrevista e de algumas conferências de Reich; b) trabalhos de comentadores da produção reichiana; c) textos de autores que marcaram significativamente as pesquisas de Reich sobre a apreensão sensorial, em particular, Friedrich A. Lange, Henri Bergson, Sigmund Freud e Richard Semon; d) estudos nos campos da História da Ciência e Filosofia da Ciência que permitiram resgatar linhas de investigação e posicionamentos epistemológicos que inspiraram as reflexões reichianas sobre a sensação. Procurou-se apontar quatro áreas de pesquisa que contribuíram para os estudos sensorialistas de Reich: as ciências biológicas e médicas (tais como a Protozoologia e Neurologia), o conhecimento psicológico (particularmente a Psicanálise), uma disciplina fundada pelo próprio autor (a Orgonomia) e a Teoria do Conhecimento (em especial, certa tradição neokantiana). Examinando-se as incursões de Reich por essas áreas, buscou-se identificar os estudiosos e correntes de pensamento que o estimularam em suas pesquisas sobre a dimensão sensorial e examinar as proposições estritamente reichianas de teor clínico, experimental e epistemológico a respeito da sensação. Observou-se que Reich partilhou da concepção de que uma sensorialidade básica se manifestaria em todos os seres vivos. Resgatou-se a tese reichiana de que níveis perceptivos elementares estariam diretamente associados, em organismos vivos, a uma singular força natural (a energia orgone), que o autor julgava ter descoberto e objetivado. Analisou-se a asserção de Reich de que, na produção humana de conhecimento, certas funções perceptivas rudimentares (filogeneticamente arcaicas) seriam continuamente modeladas pela estrutura de caráter (instância construída na relação dialética indivíduo-sociedade). Constatou-se, por fim, que Reich, transitando por diferentes setores do saber e perseguindo rotas investigativas originais, procurou articular dois aspectos extremos do fenômeno sensorial: a sensação como propriedade básica da matéria viva e como ingrediente central da produção humana de conhecimento / This thesis examines the laboratory, clinical therapeutic and epistemological studies that Wilhelm Reich, in the course of his work, dedicated to the subject of sensation. The following resources were consulted: a) articles, books, correspondences, diaries and transcriptions of an interview and of some of Reichs conferences; b) works of Reichs commentators; c) papers from authors that have significantly influenced Reichs research on sensorial apprehension, particularly Friedrich A. Lange, Henri Bergson, Sigmund Freud, and Richard Semon; d) studies in the fields of History of Science and Philosophy of Science that allowed the recovery of lines of investigation and epistemological positionings that have inspired the reichian reflexions on sensation. We tried to indicate four fields of research that have contributed to Reichs sensorial studies: the biological and medical sciences (such as the Protozoology and Neurology), the psychological knowledge (particularly the Psychoanalysis), a discipline created by the author himself (the Orgonomy), and the Theory of Knowledge (specially certain Neokantian tradition). Examining Reichs investigations on these fields, we tried to identify the scholars and currents of thought that have stimulated him in his research on the sensorial dimension and we tried to examine the strictly reichian propositions of clinical, experimental and epistemological content regarding sensation. It was observed that Reich shared the notion that a basic sensoriality would manifest in all living beings. We recovered the reichian thesis that elementary perceptive levels would be directly associated, in living organisms, to a singular natural force (the orgone energy), which the author believed to have discovered and objectified. We analyzed Reichs assertion that in human knowledge production, certain rudimentary perceptive functions (phylogenetically archaic) would be continuously modeled by the structure of character (a sphere built in the dialectic relationship individual-society). Finally, it was verified that Reich, transiting through different sectors of wisdom and chasing original investigative routes, tried to articulate two extreme aspects of the sensorial phenomenon: the sensation as a basic property of the living matter, and as a central ingredient of the human production of knowledge